First-in first-out candy machine



Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. AUERBACH r-:TAL 3,227,307

FIRST-IN FRST-OUT CANDY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1963 1NVENTOR5 HUERBACH E12/@6cm A Viv WILLIAM A pAUL. F. EEIBEL ARTHUR E BY @Cm/nm QTTOPNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 w; A. AUERBACH ETAL 3,227,307

FIRST-IN FIRST-OUT CANDY MACHINE Filed May 22, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheer:I 5

` INVENTOR5 WfLLmM A. HuzsRBAcf-i III Il IIIIIIIIIIIII I A PAUL Ff, Renaat.

ARTHUR R. EQICSON BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. AUERBACH ETAL FIRST-IN FIRST-OUT CANDY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTORS H N s c o Y RLS M @En R @E .w QDCME m Q. Q OQ MF. m w www WMA Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. AUERBACH ETAL FIRST-IN FIRST-OUT CANDY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed May 22, 1963 YIIIIIIIIIIA INVENTORS luERBAci-l REIBEL QRTHUR l2. ER/csord BYMmi/rgmm WILLIAM H- PAUL.

ATTOEN EYS Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. AUERBACH ETAL 3,227,307

FIRST-IN FIRST-OUT CANDY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 22, 1963 ENTORS UE/PBACH HRTHUR l?. EQ/cso/v BY @lam/vw HTTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. Aue-.REACH ETAL 3,227,307

FIRST-IN FIRS'JLOUT CNDY MACHINE Filed May 22, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS WILL/AM H. QUERBACH PAUL F. REISE.

ARTHUR l2. Emcsom E ,MKM

ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 w. A. AUERBACH ETAL 3,227,307

FIRST-IN FIRSTMGUT CANDY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTORS mmw\" NN N NS.

WILL/AM A. QUERBQCH PHUL if. QE/BEL @RTP/UP Q. ER/cso/V BY g a g ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed May 22, 1963, Ser. No. 282,483 18 Claims. (Cl. 221-84) Our invention relates to a merchandising machine and more particularly to `an improved merchandising machine of large capacity for dispensing articles, such as bars of candy, in rst-in first-out relationship.

There are known in the prior art various merchandising machines which are adapted to dispense articles such, for example, as bars of candy. Most of these machines include individual, independently manually operable mechanisms associated with the respective supplies contained in the machine. Most of the storage units of these machines of the prior art comprise a plurality of pivoted shelves which are tripped in sequence on successive operations of the machine from the lowermost shelf to the uppermost shelf to deliver the articles, This construction embodies a number of disadvantages. First, its capacity is relatively limited by the practical height to which the machine can be constructed. Secondly, if the machine is to be serviced before the entire supply of a column is depleted, the lowermost shelves must be reerected and filled so that the machine will not dispense in rst-in rst-out order and the articles of merchandise on the upper shelves quickly become stale. If on the other hand the machine is not refilled until the supply of a column is exhausted, then the best use is not made of the capabilities of the machine.

Most candy machines of the prior art are provided with dummy displays simulating the articles being dispensed. It will readily be apparent that such a simulated display is not as desirable as is a display of the very article which the customer will receive. First, in the prior art the customer cannot see the article he will receive. Secondly, if the type or brand of article to be dispensed is changed, it is necessary to replace the display.

We have invented an improved candy machine which overcomes the defects of candy machines of the prior art pointed out above. Our machine is so constructed that it may readily be loaded in a rapid and expeditious manner and still it will dispense the articles from the machine in rst-in rst-out order. Our machine displays to a customer the very article which he will receive in response t to the deposit of coins and actuation of a selector. Our machine includes a common coin responsive mechanism and driving member for delivering any selected article to the customer. Our machine is simple and certain in operation for the desirable results achieved thereby.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved candy machine which can `readily and expeditiously be loaded.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved candy machine which delivers articles of merchandise in first-in rst-out order.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved candy machine which has a large capacity.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide an improved candy machine which displays to a customer the very article he will receive when he makes a purchase.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved candy machine having a common drive mechanism associated with a plurality of selectively actuated units.

Still another object of our invention is to provide animconstruction and certain in its operation for the results` position behind a window through which the articles can be viewed by a prospective customer. In response to the deposit of coins yaggregating the purchase price of an article and in response to the actuation of a selection button, the corresponding escrow member is operated to deliver the article of merchandise supported thereby and concomitantly a storage belt carrying a plurality of articles is driven to deliver a fresh article directly to the escrowI member. When our machine has to be loaded, the dispensing unit can be moved to a position at which theA empty belt-carried article supports are accessible and can be loaded so that when the machine is closed articles will be delivered in first-in first-out order.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numeralsl are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE l is a front elevation of our first-in lirst-out y candy machine.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of our rst-in rst-out candy machine taken along the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of our rst-in rst-out candy machine taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1. 1 `FIGURE 4 is afragmentary sectional view of our,y

first-in rst-out candy machine.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the dirs-,I`

pensing unit of our first-in first-out candy machine.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the carriage drive mechanism of our First-In First-Out candy machine.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the carl riage of our First-In First-Out candy machine taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the carriage drive mechanism of our First-In First-Out candy machine.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of the carriage drive mechanism of our First-In First-Out candy machine taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrat` ing the storage belt drive mechanism of our First-In First- Out candy machine. v

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section view illustrating the arrangement of one of the storage belts of our First- In First-Out candy machine 'taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE l0.

FIGURE 12is a schematic View illustrating one form of electrical control circuit which can be employed with our First-In First-Out candy machine.

Referring noW to FIGURES l to 3 of the drawings, our

First-In First-Out candy machine indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a cabinet having a `back 12, sides 14 and 16 and supporting legs 18. The

front of the cabinet is adapted to be closed by a door 20 pivotally supported on a hinge 22 for movement from a position at which it closes the front of the cabinet to an open position indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 2. The door 20 carries a coin guide 22 having a slot through which coins can be deposited in the coin mechanism 24 in a manner known to the art. Door 20 also supports a coin return lever 26 adapted to be operated to return coins deposited in the machine in the event, for example, that the supply of articles of merchandise desired by a customer is exhausted. A housing 28 carried byA the inside of the door 20 slidably supports a plurality of select- Patented 1Jari. 4, 1966 i ing push buttons 30 adapted to be actuated in a manner to be described hereinafter to initiate a dispensing cycle of the machine.

We provide the door 20 with a window 32 through which the article of merchandise to be dispensed on the next operation of the machine can be viewed by a potential customer. An opening 34 formed in the door 20 below the window 32 provides access to the delivery tray 36 of the machine so that a customer may take the article of merchandise he has selected.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, 5, 10 and l1, our machine 10 includes a merchandise storage and delivery assembly indicated generally by the reference character 38 comprising a pair of side walls 40 and 42 held assembled in spaced relationsip by a plurality of cross braces 44, 46, 48 and 50. We hang the unit 38 on hinge pins 49 by means of brackets 51 as shown in FIGURES 2 and to permit the unit 38 to be swung to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 2 when the door is open to permit the unit to be loaded. As shown in FIGURE 3, a caster 53 carried by a bracket 55 rests on a support 57 within the cabinet when the unit is housed to aid in supporting the weight of the unit.

The assembly 38 carries a plurality of respective merchandise storage units indicated generally by the reference charatcers 52. Each unit 52 includes a pair of side panels 54 and 56 supported by brackets 58 and 60 attached to the cross braces 48 and 50 by any suitable means. Each pair of panels 54 and 56 carries an upper toothed beltsupporting roller 62 and a lower toothed belt-supporting roller 64. Roller 62 is supported in openings in a pair of belt guide plates 66 and 68 secured to the panels 54 and 56 by any suitable means such as screws or the like. The lower roller 64 is supported in a similar manner and may, if desired, be so arranged as to permit the tension on the belt, to be described hereinafter, to be adjusted.

Each pair of rollers 62 and 64 supports a belt 70 having teeth which are adapted to engage the teeth of the rollers 62 and 64. Each belt 70 carries a plurality of merchandise supporting shelves 72 at spaced locations along its length. We form each shelf with an article support 76 which rides in respective tracks 78 and 80 formed in the plates 66 and 68 to guide the belt in its movement. Any suitable means such, for example, as screws 82 or the like, are employed to secure a pin plate 84 having pins 86 to the roller 62 for movement therewith. As will be explained hereinafter, in the course of a dispensing operation, a pin of the plate 84 is driven to rotate the roller 62 through a predetermined angular movement to advance the belt 70.

We form the rollers 62 and 64 and the guide plates 66 and 68 from any suitable material such, for example, as a relatively rigid cast plastic. The belt 70 and the shelves 72 are formed from any suitable material. Preferably we employ polypropylene plastic to form the belt. The details of the belt and the manner in which it is constructed are disclosed more fully in the copending application of Paul F. Reibel and William A. Auerbach, Serial No. 200,811, filed June 7, 1962, for a Timing Belt.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 to 5, we mount a stationary shaft 88 in the side walls 40 and 42 of the assembly 38. Shaft 88 frictionally carries a plurality of respective escrow members indicated generally by the reference character 90. The arrangement is such that one escrow member 90 is associated with each unit 52 and is disposed below the belt 70 of the unit. Preferably we mold each of the members 90 from a suitable plastic. The members 90 are generally triangular in cross-sectional shape to provide respective article supporting surfaces 92, 94 and 96 and retaining flanges 98, 100 and 102. We provide each of the escrow members 90 with respective pins 104 corresponding in number to the number of surfaces 92, 94 and 96. In the normal position of the members 90, the surface 92 supports the article next to be dispensed by that particular unit in a position at which it can be viewed by a customer. When a dispensing operation takes place in a manner to be described hereinafter, the member rotates 120 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 to dump the article which formerly was under the window 32 onto a delivery chute 106 supported between sides 40 and 42 so that the article slides down the chute and onto the delivery tray 36. A bale 108 supported on the lower edges of partitions 110 separating adjacent members 90 prevents a dishonest person from reaching into the machine to gain access to the merchandise supported by the member 90.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 6 to 9, stub shafts 112 mounted on the sides 40 and 42 of the unit 38 support a carriage 114. A bracket 116 on the carriage carries a roller 118 adapted to engage in a notch 120 of a drive link 122 pivotally connected by a pin 124 to a crank 126 on the shaft 128 of a motor 134 supported on a bracket 132 carried by the machine. A spring 130 extending between the link 122 and the cross brace S0 normally urges the lever to a position at which roller 118 is disposed in the notch 120.

When in a manner to be described hereinafter the drive motor 134 is energized to rotate the shaft 128 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4, link 122 pulls the follower roller 118 first downwardly as viewed in FIG- URE 4 and then moves the roller upwardly to oscillate the carriage 114 tirst forwardly and then rearwardly of of the machine.

If the escrow member or the storage belt is for any reason jammed, the roller 118 rides out of the notch 120 and the motor 134 completes its cycle. This releasable connection achieves a number purposes. First it prevents damage to the operating parts of the machine. Secondly, other sections of the machine may be operated even though one or more of the machine sections are jammed either accidentally or forceably by a dishonest person. Owing to the fact that the escrow member is driven on the forward or dispensing stroke of the carriage and the supply belt is driven on the return stroke of the carriage, if the supply belt is jammed a customer making a purchase from this section will receive the article from the escrow member and the next customer will not be permitted to purchase from this section since the escrow member will indicate that the supply is empty.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 7, respective pins 136 on the carriage 114 pivotally support a plurality of coupling levers 138. An offset 140 carried by an arm 142 on a coupling link 138 is adapted to be engaged by the head 144 of a solenoid armature 146 having a winding 148 associated therewith. In response to actuation of a selecting button 30 winding 148 is energized in a manner to be described hereinafter to move the armature 146 into the winding. A pin 150 on the lever 138 pivotally supports a locking link 152 having a slot 154 which engages a pin 156 secured to the carriage 114. We connect a spring 158 between a lug 160 on link 152 and a pin 162 on the carriage 114.

From the structure just described, it will readily be apparent that with winding 148 de-energized and with the parts in their normall position, spring 158 urges link 152 to move in a counterclockwise direction. When this occurs, link 152 is driven to the right as viewed in FIG- URE 7 and spring 158 rotates link 152 in a counterclockwise direction as the enlarged portion 164 of slot 154 moves to the location of the pin. We provide the carriage 114 with a latching bar 166 having slots 168 by means of which the bar is slidably supported on the pins 156. A spring connected between a bracket 172 on carriage 114 and a bracket 174 on the carriage normally urges bar 166 to a position at which pins 156 are in engagement with the left ends of slots 168 as viewed in FIGURE 7. We connect a pin 176 on the bracket 172 on the armature 178 of a solenoid 180 which when energized moves bar 166 to the left against the action of spring 170.

When, as described hereinabove, one of the solenoids 148 is energized to rotate its associated lever 138 in a counterclockwise direction, link 152 is driven to the right. As the enlarged portion 164 of the link slot 154 moves to a position adjacent the corresponding pin 156, spring 158 rotates latch 152 in a counterclockwise direction to bring a hook 182 on the end of a link into engagement with the end of an olfset 184 on bar 166. In this manner the actuated lever 138 is latched in its actuated position.

Now when the dispensing operation is complete, solenoid 180 is energized in a manner to be described` to move bar 166 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 7, to move the end of the offset 184 away from hook 182. As this action takes place, spring 158 moves the latch to a position at which hook 182 is out of engagement with the oiset 184 and the actuated coupling lever 138 is reset.

It will readily be understood that there is a coupling lever 138 and associated mechanism for each of the units 52 of the machine. Since the details of these elements are identical, we will not describe them individually.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 7 and 9, we provide a drive link 186 for each unit 52 of the machine. bracket 187 supported on the brace 50 carries a plurality of pins 188 which pivotally support respective bell cranks, each of which has an arm 190 and an arm 192. A pin 194 connects the arm 192 with a drive link of a unit 52. The end of each link remote from pin 194 is formed with a slot 196 which suspends the link on a pin 198 carried by the partition 110 of the corresponding unit. We form each of the drive links 186 with a notch 200 into whichthe upper end of the corresponding coupling lever 138 moves when that lever is raised in the manner described above.

From the structure thus far described, it will be clear that when a particular lever 138 has been actuated to move its upper end into the slot 200 of the corresponding drive link 186 and as the carriage 114 oscillates, link 186 rst moves to the left as viewed in FIGURE 4 and then back to the right as viewed in FIGURE 4. Each link 186 has a pin 202 which supports a pawl 204 normally urged by a spring 206 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 until the pawl rests against the stop pin 208 on its associated link. Now as the link 186 moves to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 4, pawl 204 engages one of the pins such as the pin 104 of its associated escrow member 90 to rotate the member in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4. We form link 186 with a notch 210 in to which the pin rides as the link 186 moves to the left. On the return stroke of the link 186 pawl 204 rides under the pins of the member 90.

We provide each unit with a locating pawl 212 pivotally carried by a pin 214 on the partition 110. A spring 216 urges the pawl to a position at which it rests against the stop pin 218 on the partition. As the member 90 moves through one-third of a revolution in response to m-ovement of the bar 166 the pawl 212 rides from between one pair of adjacent pins 104 and into the space between the next pair of Iadjacent pins accurately to locate the member 90.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 10 and 11 each arm 190 of the bell crank of a particular unit is connected by a pin 220 to a coupling link 222. A pin 224 connects the other end of the link 222 to an actuating bar 226 slida'bly supported by slots 228 and 230 riding on pins 232 and 234 carried by the panel 56 of the corresponding unit. A pin 236 pivotally supports a pawl 238 on bar 226. A spring 240 connected between the pawl and the bar urges the pawl to rot-ate in 4a counterclockwise,direction as viewed in FIGURE 10 to bring a stop lug 242 into engagement with the edge of the bar. Now when carriage 114 oscillates to drive link 186 first to the lef-t and then to the right as viewed in FIGURE 4, the bell crank, including the arm 190 oscillates on its pivot pin 188. In response to this movement of arm 190 link 222 drives' bar 226 first upwardly and then downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 10. When this occurs, during the upward stroke the pawl 238 rides over one of the pins 86 on its associated plate 84. Then on the downward stroke pawl 238 engages one of the pins and rotates the plate 84 in a countercl-ockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 10. We provide the drive bar 226 with a locating lug 244 which during the terminal portion of the downward stroke of bar 226 engages the pin following that which had been engage-d by pawl 238 to complete the rotation of plate 84 and to locate the plate 84 accurately so that the belt 70 moves through only a predetermined distance. It will be seen that the plate 84 moves through a quarter of a revolution.

In response to the actuation of the disc or plate 84 described above, the left side of belt 70, as viewed in FIGURE 10, moves downwardly while the right side of the belt moves upwardly. In our machine the shelves 72 on the right as viewed in FIGURE l0 support respective articles such, for example, as bars of candy bottom side up. We mount a bar positioner 246 on a pivot pin 248 carried by a bracket 250. A spring 252 normally urges the positioner 246 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 10. A lug 254 limits this movement by its engagement with a stop on the bracket 250. Now as a shelf 72 moves from a position at the right of the axis of disc 84 as viewed in FIGURE 10, it dumps the bar supported on one side thereof over and down onto the reverse side of the shelf therebelow. The bar guide 246 and the supports 76 cooperate to control this movement of the bar so that it lands on the tray 72 ahead right side up.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, we may if desired se-` cure a gum unit indicated generally by the reference character 256 to the side panel 42 to permit the machine to dispense gum as well as other articles of merchandise such as bars of candy. Since the gum delivery unit 256 does not per se form part of our invention, it will not -be .described in detail.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9 the pin 124 which connects link 1-22 t-o the crank 126 also supports an arm 258. As the motor 134 approaches the end of a revolution of shaft 128, arm 258 actuates a switch 260 to energize solenoid 180.

Referring now to FIGURE 12 we have shown one form of electrical control circuit which can be employed to control our machine. The coin mechanism 24 of the machine includes a rotary-stepping switch indicated generally by the reference character 262, having an arm 264 which in response yto the deposit of coins in the mechanism through the coin slot 22 is stepped successively to engage contacts 266 which correspond respectively to the deposit of various sums in coins in the machine. One form of totalizer which We may employ in our machine is shown for example in U.S. Patent No. 2,957,568 issued October 25, 1960 to Christian Gabrielsen for Mechanical Coin Totalizer. Each of the selecting solenoid push buttons 30 is adapted to be actuated from a position at which it connects contacts 268 and 270 to a position at which it engages contacts 272 and 274. We connect all of the sets of contacts 268 and 270 in series. We connect the selecting solenoids 148 respectively between a contact 270 and one of the price lines 276 of a price board 278 of a type known to the art. Each of the price lines 276 in turn is connected to a dummy solenoid on one of the price differential solenoids 280 of the coin mechanism 24. Solenoids 280 in turn are connected to predetermined ones of the contacts 266. Let us assume that 4a sum in coins aggregating the price corresponding to a contact 266 to which a solenoid 280 is connected has been deposited in the machine so that the arm 264 engages that contact 266. Now if a button 30 4connected to the price line corresponding to the engaged contact 266 is actuated, a circuit is complete from a conductor 282 connected to one terminal 284 of the.

supply voltage through the contacts 268 and 270 of the selecting switches to the left of the actuated switch, through contacts 272 and 274 of the actuated push button switch, through the solenoid 148 corresponding to the actuated push button, through the price line and solenoid 280 to which the selecting solenoid is connected through a contact 266 and through arm 264 to a solenoid winding 286. From the solenoid 286 the circuit is complete through a normally closed coin return switch 288 through a switch arm 290 in engagement with contact 292 and through a switch arm 294 in engagement with a contact 296 to a conductor 298 connected to the other terminal 300.

When the circuit described above has thus been completed, the selected solenoid 148 is immediately energized to actuate its associated coupling lever 138 which is latched in that position. At the same time solenoid 286 is energized to move switch arm 290 into engagement with a contact 302 to start the coin mechanism resetting motor 304. Motor 304 operates arm 294 to move it into engagement with a contact 306. The motor 304 acts through a linkage 308 in a manner known to the art to hold arm 294 in engagement with the contact 306 for a single revolution of the motor and then permits it to return to the contact 296. The motor 304 operates a. linkage 310 to return arm 264 to its initial position. Since these linkages are known in the art, they will not be described in detail.

Now when arm 294 moves into engagement with contact 306 it starts the carriage drive motor 134 through a switch arm 312 in engagement with a contact 314. At the same time it energizes a winding 316 which moves arm 314 into engagement with a contact 318 to bypass the coin mechanism circuit. When motor 134 starts, it moves an arm 320 into engagement with a contact 322 to complete the circuit from contact 318 to conductor 298. Switch 320 is held closed by the motor 134 until the motor completes a revolution in a manner known to the art. As motor 134 approaches the end of a revolution, the arm 258 actuates switch 260 to close the switch to complete the circuit winding 180 to unlatch the selecting coupling lever. We have indicated the action of arm 258 schematically by the broken line 324 in FIGURE 12.

In operation of our improved candy machine a customer desiring to make a purchase approaches the machine and views the articles on the escrow members 90 through the Window 32. When the customer has determined his purchase, he deposits a sum in coins aggregating at least the purchase price into the register 23 through the slot in coin guide 22. He then actuates the button 30 corresponding to the article he desires to energize one of the selecting solenoids 148. When this solenoid is energized, it rotates the corresponding lever 138 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7 to move the upper end of the lever into the notch 200 of the corresponding link 186. As the selected lever moves, it forces the latch 152 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 7 until pin 156 moves into the enlarged portion 164 of slot 154 at which time hook 182 moves over the edge of the offset 184 on slide 166.

Motor 134 is then energized. As the motor rotates it completes its own holding circuit for one revolution in the manner described above. In the course of this revolution, crank 126 actuates link 122 to oscillate carriage 114 first to the left and then to the right as viewed in FIG- URE 3.

In response to the movement of the carriage just described, the escrow member 90 rotates through a third of a revolution to dump the article supported thereby onto the chute along which it slides to the delivery tray 36. Concomitantly with this movement of the escrow member 90, the bell crank arm 190 drives link 222 upwardly as viewed in FIGURES 3 and l0 to push pawl 38 up so that it rides over a pin 86. Now as bar 226 is then pulled downwardly, plate 84 is driven through a quarter revolution to dump an article from the lowermost shelf 72 at the front of the machine to the article supporting surface, such as surface 94, of the escrow member now moving into position behind window 32. In the course of this operation, the controller 246 cooperates with the support 76 of the shelf 72 moving around the top of the unit to cause bars which are supported in upside down position on the shelves at the rear of the machine to be delivered in upright position as they move to the shelves at the front of the machine.

As the shaft of motor 134 completes a revolution, the arm 258 actuates switch 260 to energize solenoid to move slide 166 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 7 to permit the selected lever 138 to reset.

When the machine has to be loaded as the supplies of articles reach predetermined low levels so that substantially all of the shelves 72 at the back of the machine are empty, the person servicing the machine opens door 20 and swings the unit 38 to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 2. In this position of the parts, the empty shelves at the rear of the unit are readily accessible and can be loaded. Now when the machine is returned to operation the merchandise therein will be delivered in first-in first-ont order.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided an improved candy machine which can be loaded in a rapid and expeditious manner. Our machine delivers articles of merchandise in first-in first-out order. It has a large capacity. It displays to a potential customer the very article he receives when he makes a purchase. Our machine incorporates a common drive mechanism associated with a plurality of selectively actuated units. Our machine is relatively simple in construction and certain in operation.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of generally vertically disposed endless conveyors, respective pairs of upper and lower rollers for supporting said conveyors, carriers spaced along the length of each of said conveyors and adapted to support articles of merchandise, drive means disposed below and extending adjacent said conveyors and means comprising links for coupling said drive means to said upper rollers to drive said conveyors.

2. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of generally vertically disposed endless conveyors, respective pairs of upper and lower rollers for supporting said conveyors, a plurality of article carriers spaced along the length of said conveyors, drive means comprising an oscillating carriage disposed below and .adjacent to said conveyors and means for selectively coupling said carriage to said upper rollers to drive said conveyors.

3. In a merchandising machine; a support, a generally vertically disposed endless conveyor, means mounting said conveyor for movement on said support, a plurality of merchandise carriers spaced along the length of said conveyor and adapted to support articles of merchandise, the arrangement being such that an article of merchandise supported on a given carrier moves under the influence of gravity from said given carrier to a preceding carrier in the direction of movement of said conveyor as said given carrier moves around the upper end of said supporting means, means for intercepting said article moving to a preceding carrier and means mounting said intercepting means for movement to control the movement of said article of merchandise moving from the given carrier to the preceding carrier.

4. In a merchandising machine; a support, a generally vertically disposed endless conveyor, means mounting said conveyor for movement on said support, a plurality of merchandise carriers spaced along the length of said conveyor and adapted to support articles of merchandise, the arrangement being such that an article of merchandise supported on a given carrier moves under the influence of gravity from said given carrier to a preceding carrier in the direction of movement of said conveyor as said given carrier moves around the upper end of said supporting means, a guide arm for engaging said article moving to a preceding carrier, means pivotally mounting said guide arm on said support and means resiliently urging said guide arm to a position at which it engages an article moving from said given carrier to said preceding carrier to control the movement thereof.`

5. In a merchandising machine; a support, a generally vertically disposed endless conveyor having front and rear reaches, means mounting said conveyor for movement on said support in a direction at which the rear reach moves upwardly and the front reach moves downwardly, a plurality of merchandise carriers spaced along the length of said conveyor for carrying articles of merchandise, the arrangement being such that an article of merchandise supported on a given carrier moves under the influence of gravity from said given carrier to a preceding carrier in the direction of movement of said conveyor, means for intercepting said article moving to a preceding carrier and means mounting said intercepting means for movement to control the movement of an article being transferred from said given carrier to said preceding carrier such that an article on a carrier going from the rear reach to the front reach is inverted as it moves to the preceding carrier.

6. A machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a generally vertically disposed conveyor, means mounting said conveyor for movement to provide tirst and second reaches, a plurality of spaced article carriers disposed along the length of said conveyor, `an escrow member having an article-receiving surface,

means mounting said escrow member adjacent said rst reach and relatively remote said second reach, said escrow member being adapted to be driven to position its article- `receiving surface to receive an article from one of said carriers on said iirst reach, means for driving said conveyor in a direction such that said first reach moves toward said escrow member.

7. A merchandising machine including in combination a support, a generally vertically disposed article supply conveyor, a plurality of open shelves on said conveyor, means mounting said conveyor for movement on said support, an escrow member `having an article-supporting surface, means mounting said escrow member on said support for movement of its article-supporting surface from a remote position to a receiving position at which it is adapted to receive an article from one of said shelves, and means for driving said conveyor in such a direction that an article supported on one of said shelves moves directly from said shelf onto said article-receiving surface as said yescrow member moves to said receiving position.

8. In a merchandising machine; a support,"a generally vertically disposed article supply conveyor, a plurality of open shelves on said conveyor, means mounting said conveyor on said support for movement of said shelves around the top of the supporting means whereby anA article on a shelf moving around the top falls under the iniiuence of gravity onto the shelf immediately preceding said shelf moving around the top in the direction of movement of the conveyor, means for intercepting said article falling onto said immediately preceding shelf and means mounting said intercepting means for movement to guide said article. Y

9. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of storage means adapted to hold respective supplies of articles of merchandise, said storage means being adapted to be actuated to deliver articles therefrom, respective means for actuating said storage means, a carriage, means mounting said carriage adjacent said storage means, means for driving said carriage, respective means for coupling said storage means to said carrier, a plurality of selecting means adapted to be operated to actuatesaid coupling means, means responsive to operation of a coupling means for latching said coupling means in its operated position and means responsive to completion of a delivery operation for releasing said latching means.

10. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of storage means adapted to hold respective supplies of articles of merchandise, said storage means being adapted to be actuated to deliver articles therefrom, respective means for actuating said storage means, a carriage, means mounting said carriage adjacent said storage means, means for driving said carriage, a plurality of couplers, interengageable means on said couplers and on said actuating means for providing a driving connection between said couplers and said actuating means, means mounting said couplers for movement on said carriage from positions at which said interengageable means are inoperable to operative positions at which said interengageable means may engage, means for selectively operating said coupling means to move the corresponding interengageable means to operative position, means responsive to operation of an operating means for latching said coupling means in its operative position and means responsive to the completion of a driving movement of said carriage for releasing said latchmg means.

11. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of storage means adapted to hold respective supplies of articles of merchandise, said storage means being adapted to be actuated to deliver articles therefrom, respective means for actuating said storage means, a carriage, means mounting said carriage adjacent said storage means, means for driving said carriage, a plurality of couplers, coupling interengageable means on said couplers and on said actuating means for providing a driving connection between said couplers and said actuating means, means mounting said couplers for movement on said carriage from inoperable positions at which said coupling interengageable means are out of engagement to operative positions at which said `coupling interengageable means may engage, means for selectively operating said coupling means to move the corresponding coupling interengageable means to its operative position, respective latches carried by said couplers, a latching bar, latching interengageable means on said latches and on said latching har and responsive to operation of a coupler for latching Vsaid coupler in a position at which the corresponding coupling `interengageable means are in operative position and means responsive to the completion of a driving movementof said carriage vfor actuating said latching bar to release said latching interengageable means.

12. In a merchandising machine; a plurality of carriers each `adapted to support an article of merchandise, means mounting said carriers for movement to deliver articles of merchandise supported thereby, respective means for actuating said carriers to deliver articles supported thereby, a common drive member associated with said actuating means, respective coupling arms adapted to engage said actuating means, means mounting said coupling arms on said drive member for movement from inoperative positions to operative positions in which they can engage said actuating means, a plurality of latches, means mounting said latches respectively on said arms, a latching bar, interengageable means on said latches and on said latching bar for engaging to latch a coupling arm in operative position, means mounting said latching bar on said drive member for movement from a latching position at which said interengageable means may engage to a release position at which any engaged interengageable means is released, means normally biasing said arms to inoperative position, a plurality of selecting means adapted to be operated to move said coupling arms selectively to opera- 1,1 tive position, means responsive to movement of an arm to operative position for engaging said interengageable means and means responsive to movement of said drive member for moving said latching bar to its release position.

13. In a merchandising machine having a dispensing cycle apparatus for coupling a drive member to an actuating element including a coupling arm, the combination comprising means mounting said coupling arm on said member for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position at which it can engage said actuating element, a latch provided with a slot having an enlarged portion and a reduced portion, means connecting said latch to said arm, a pin on said member disposed in said slot, resilient means for urging said latch to a position at which said pin is in the narrow portion of said slot and said arm is in inoperative position, a latching bar, interengageable means on said bar and on said latch for holding said arm in operative position, means mounting said bar on said member for movement from a latching position at which said interengageable means may engage to a release position at which engagement of said interengageable means is released, means for biasing said -bar to latching position, means for moving said arm to operative position to move the enlarged portion of said slot over said pin to permit said interengageable means to engage and means responsive to said dispensing cycle for moving said bar to said release position.

14. In a merchandising machine having a dispensing cycle apparatus for coupling a drive member to an actuating element including a coupling arm, the combination comprising means mounting said coupling arm on said member for movement from an inoperative position to a position at which it can engage said actuating element, a latch, means mounting said latch on said arm, a latching bar, interengageable means on said latch and on said bar for engaging to latch said coupling arm in operative position, means mounting said latching bar on said drive member for movement from a latching position at which said interengageable means may engage to a release position at which the interengageable means is released, means normally biasing said arm to inoperative position, means adapted to be operated to move said arm to operative position, means responsive to movement of said arm to operative position for engaging said interengageable means and means responsive to said dispensing cycle for moving said latching bar to release position.

15. A machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination respective storage means for holding a plurality of supplies of articles to be dispensed, a plurality of escrow members for receiving articles respectively from said storage means, means mounting said storage means for movement to transfer articles of merchandise to their associated escrow members, means mounting each of said escrow members for movement from a first position at which a first article is supported thereby to a second position at which said first article is delivered, said escrow member being adapted to support a second article in said second position, a common drive means comprising a releasable overload connection, said drive means having a delivery stroke and a return stroke and means for selectively coupling one of said escrow members and its associated storage means to said drive means to deliver a first article supported by said escrowV mounting each of said escrow members for movement from a first position at which a first article is supported thereby to a second position at which said first article is delivered, said escrow member being adapted to support a second article in said second position, a carriage, means mounting said carriage for movement with a delivery stroke and a return stroke, a prime mover, a releasable overload connection for coupling said primer mover to said carriage to drive said carriage and means for selectively coupling one of said escrow members and its associated storage means to said carriage to deliver a first article supported by said escrow member on the delivery stroke of said carriage and to transfer a second article from the selected storage means to said escrow member on the return stroke of said carriage.

17. A machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination respective storage means for holding a plurality of supplies of articles to be dispensed, a plurality of escrow members for receiving articles respectively from said storage means, means mounting said storage means for movement to transfer articles of merchandise to their associated escrow members, means mounting each of said escrow members for movement from a irst position at which a first article is supported thereby to a second position at which said first article is delivered, said escrow member being adapted to support a second article in said second position, a carriage, means mounting said carriage for movement with a delivery stroke and a return stroke, a prime mover, means comprising a link having a notch carried by one of said prime mover and said carriage, a roller carried by the other of said prime mover and said carriage and a spring for urging said roller into said notch for releasably coupling said prime mover to said carriage to drive said carriage and means for selectively coupling one of said escrow members and its associated storage means to said carriage to deliver a first article supported by said escrow member on the delivery stroke of said carriage and to transfer a second article from the selected storage means to said escrow member on the return stroke of said carriage.

18. A machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination respective storage means for holding a plurality of supplies of articles to be dispensed, a plurality of escrow members for receiving articles respectively from said storage means, means comprising upper and lower rollers mounting said storage means for movement to transfer articles of merchandise to their associated escrow members, means mounting each of said escrow members for movement from a first position at which a first article is supported thereby to a second position at which said first article is delivered, said escrow member being adapted to support a second article in said second position, respective reciprocable drive members disposed below said storage means, interengageable means on said drive members and on said escrow members for driving said escrow members in response to reciprocation of said drive members, respective linkages connecting said drive members to said upper rollers for driving said storage means in response to reciprocation of said drive members, a carriage, means mounting said carriage for oscillating movement adjacent said drive members, means for oscillating said carriage and respective actuatable means on said carriage for selectively coupling one of said drive members to said carriage to deliver a first article supported by said escrow member and to transfer a second article from the selected storage means to said escrow member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,345 3/1903 Webber 221-84 1,386,974 8/1929 Templeton 221-84 1,823,093 9/1931 DuGrenier 221-84 1,840,851 l/l932 Schmelz 221-82 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS 14 FOREIGN PATENTS Mine; 221-77 X 15,818 4/1912 Denmark. Brodle et al- 221-247 X 16,526 7/1911 Great Britain. Ho1comb 221--79 Weber 221-82 

1. IN A MERCHANDISING MACHINE; A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED ENDLESS CONVEYORS, RESPECTIVE PAIRS OF UPPER AND LOWER ROLLERS SUPPORTING SAID CONVEYORS, CARRIER SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID CONVEYORS AND ADPATED TO SUPPORT ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE, DRIVE 